If you’re thinking about becoming a personal trainer, you probably want to know what a personal training course involves. In this article, we cover everything you need to know – from entry requirements to final assessments.
- What Does a Personal Training Course Involve?
- What Does The Course Curriculum Include?
- What to Expect From a Personal Training Course Assessment?
- FAQs
Want to know exactly what OriGym’s personal training courses involve? Download our course prospectus here.
What Does a Personal Training Course Involve?
A personal training course introduces you to the core knowledge you’ll use every day as a fitness professional. You’ll study topics such as anatomy and physiology, the principles of exercise, and how nutrition supports training goals.
You’ll also learn how to keep clients safe, adapt programmes for different abilities, and communicate effectively to keep people motivated.
By the end of the course, you will feel confident planning structured training programmes, delivering engaging one-to-one or group sessions, and assessing client progress to help them achieve long-term results. You’ll also develop the professional skills needed to work successfully in a gym or freelance environment.
A Level 3 Personal Training qualification will cover all of these essential skills and knowledge, and give you the qualification you need to work as a personal trainer in a gym.
What Does The Course Curriculum Include?
The best personal trainer courses will contain a range of modules to provide students with the necessary knowledge to not only qualify but work successfully as a PT. Below is a breakdown of each module and what they involve:
Advanced Anatomy and Physiology for Health & Exercise
Of course, every personal trainer needs to have plenty of expert knowledge about different muscle groups and how the body works! This is important for clients so you can manage their fitness goals and provide the most effective and rewarding plans to help them get there.
You will learn how different areas of the body respond to various types of exercise, and how to guide clients through effective stretching and flexibility movements. It also helps you understand the dangers of overexercising so you can warn clients about these risks and prevent injury.
Nutritional Principles
On a Level 3 Personal Trainer Course, you will learn elements of nutrition through modules such as ‘Nutrition Principles’. This will provide you with the fundamental knowledge about the relationship between exercise and food as well as basic nutrition science. Most importantly, this will involve how to align a client’s diet with their training goals.
You will also learn to give general healthy eating advice, though not medical or clinical nutrition. This means helping clients understand good nutrition habits and basic nutrition guidelines. Although this will provide you with basic principles of nutrition, you can deepen your knowledge with advanced qualifications such as a Level 4 in Advanced Sports Nutrition.
Personal Training Delivery
It’s unlikely you’ll make it as a successful personal trainer if you cannot communicate effectively with clients and motivate them during times when they aren’t feeling their best.
This module on a Level 3 Personal Trainer Course is designed to teach you how to instruct exercise and physical activity, as part of a tailored personal training programme.
You will also learn how to adapt exercises, motivate clients, and deliver safe and effective training for all. This is focused on one-to-one, as well as small group personal training sessions.
Programming Training Sessions
Learning how to programme training sessions is one of the most important modules involved during the course. This personal training module will teach you how to design individual training plans with specific clients in mind, allowing you to use your newly gained knowledge to adapt regimes to fit their fitness goals.
You will learn how to recognise what areas of a client’s body need specific attention and include special considerations for those with disabilities or certain requirements. The module will teach you how to help them progress towards their realistic goals by using your tailored programmes.
Demonstrating Leadership
This module teaches students how to lead by example and become the trusted advisor clients expect you to be. As a personal trainer, it’s crucial you become someone that clients trust to make an effective change in their lives, by helping them achieve their health and fitness goals.
You will be taught how to inspire and motivate ambitious clients in a way that isn’t arrogant or condescending. Being a great leader is about helping those who need it and supporting them as best as you can, which is what this area of the course will help with.
Learning the Business
A personal trainer course not only involves modules on anatomy and nutrition but also how to succeed in the industry and market your services to clients. This involves helping students develop an effective personal training business model.
This area of the course will teach you everything from how a successful personal trainer markets themselves to how they maximise business opportunities. Business modules are a crucial part of a personal trainer course because they help you understand the industry successfully and target specific clients you can turn into paying ones.
What to Expect From a Personal Training Course Assessment
To gain a Level 3 Personal Training qualification, you will need to complete some assessments first.
As with most providers, you will be assessed on the theory elements of your course through multiple-choice exams and quizzes based on anatomy and physiology, as well as nutrition knowledge acquired during your studies.
You’ll also complete coursework to solidify what you’ve learnt through your course such as programming with clients and client screening.
The main assessment at the end of your Level 3 course is a final practical observation based on delivering a customised personal training programme for a client.
FAQs
Is it Worth Completing a Personal Training Course?
If you want to become a personal trainer, the Level 3 Personal Trainer Certificate is essential! You’ll certainly need this qualification if you’re hoping to be employed by a gym, work as a freelancer with your own clients, or one day have your own personal training business.
As this is essential for success in the industry, this makes it a worthwhile investment.
Are There Any Entry Requirements?
To become a qualified personal trainer, first you need to complete a Level 2 Fitness Instructor Course. This creates the foundation of your fitness career by providing you with the fundamental knowledge and skills necessary for moving onto the Level 3 Personal Trainer Course.
If you don’t have any existing qualifications, you can gain both the Level 2 and Level 3 as part of a Personal Trainer Diploma. This is the most popular route to getting qualified and takes you from no qualifications or experience to fully qualified!
If you want to understand the difference between the diploma and certificate routes, have a read of our guide where we break down the differences between a PT certificate and diploma.
How Long is a Personal Training Course?
How long a personal training course takes depends on your study method, experience, and whether you already hold a Level 2 qualification. Full-time routes can be as quick as 2 weeks, while part-time study usually takes 6 weeks, and online options around 8 weeks. Some learners may take longer or shorter than these averages, but all pathways cover the same essential content to prepare you for a successful PT career.
To find out more about how long it takes to become a personal trainer, check out our guide: How Long Does it Take to Become a Personal Trainer?
How Much is a Personal Training Course?
There isn’t a concrete answer to how much a personal training course costs, as prices differ greatly among providers. However, on average personal training courses cost between £1500 and £2000.
To find affordable personal training courses, you should check whether there are any hidden fees or costs which aren’t included in the course price. For example, some providers charge extra for resits or PT certificates.
For a more detailed breakdown on the factors affecting cost and the prices of different providers, check out our article: How Much Does it Cost to Become a Personal Trainer? (UK)
How to Choose a Course Provider?
There are a range of factors which should be considered when deciding on a personal training course provider. These factors include:
- Accreditation and Regulation
- Location
- Study Method
- Resources
- Study Support
- Career Support
- Reviews
- Extra Fees
This guide provides an in depth look into these different factors to help potential students decide on the right provider for them: Best Personal Training Courses Compared.
What Should I Expect From a Level 3 Personal Trainer Course?
Level 3 Personal Trainer Courses cover a mixture of theory and practical training. The theory elements of the course involve learning about the fundamentals of anatomy & physiology, as well as nutrition principles and the business of personal training. The practical side of the course revolves around planning and delivering personal training sessions.
Assessments includes multiple-choice theory exams, coursework, and a practical observation on delivering a customised personal training programme.
What Support Do You Get During a PT Course?
Support varies depending on the education provider. For example, while studying with OriGym, you’ll receive unlimited tutor support 7 days a week via phone, email, or live chat. However, this isn’t the same for all course providers. To find out exactly what support is available on your personal trainer course, you should ask before enrolment.
Before You Go!
Now you know what a personal trainer course involves, why not turn your passion into a rewarding career?
Enquire about our CIMSPA Personal Trainer Diploma or download our course prospectus to learn more about our training!
